Largest anti-speeding team heading to Newport

PC Lee Thomas, of the Newport safer neighbourhood team, said there are plans to recruit a dozen or more volunteers to form a Community Speedwatch scheme in the town.

It has come about following large numbers of complaints about speeding around Newport.

The scheme involves training up volunteers to operate a speed gun in areas where concerns have been raised around speeding.

They usually work in groups of three to record data which can be fed back to a safety camera partnership, and drivers travelling above the speed limit would receive advisory warning letters.

Repeat offenders would be reported to the police to see if more robust action was required.

Addressing dozens of people at Newport's annual town meeting on Monday (4), Pc Thomas said a scheme based on these principles was set up in Edgmond last year and is successfully running. It has about half a dozen volunteers.

Pc Thomas said: "What I am looking to achieve in Newport is on a far grander scale and something that has not been done before in the West Mercia Police area.

"My plan is to have one, maybe two, larger groups of volunteers, possibly a dozen or so people, who will be trained and provided with equipment, and can then choose the times and days that they carry out monitoring on identified and approved sites." The sites to be monitored would have to be given the go-ahead by officials for health and safety and legal reasons.

Speed survey data has been gathered over the past two years and the top five sites have been identified as having the most concerns about speeding drivers.

Volunteers would be trained by the safety camera partnership, which also provides the necessary equipment which is funded through the police and crime commissioner’s office.

Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer is asked to email Pc Thomas at newport.snt@westmercia.pnn.police.uk

Pc Thomas also encouraged people at the meeting to join or set up their own neighbourhood watch schemes around Newport.

He said: "It's about being an active citizen and being aware what's happening in your neighbourhood.

"There's no need to be out there roaming the streets at night. If something looks out of place, get on the phone to police, report any suspicious activity."

He said it can be a good deterrent to criminals, adding: "Find out from your neighbour if they want to participate."

To find out more information on how to join a neighbourhood watch scheme visit westmercianw.org.uk